Consumer
On Broadband, Lakeland to Request Buffet of Choices
Absent a clear vision for their broadband ambitions and eager to capitalize on recent prodding for information by communications technology companies, commissioners agreed Friday to issue an open-ended request for proposals to firms willing to create a partnership with the city. More
Note to Readers: We’re Making Some Repairs
You may have come to LkldNow on Sunday afternoon and the website looked a little strange. And there will be periods today when things look a little strange again. We’re working through some technical issues, and fixing them requires us to switch to different templates temporarily. Please bear with us. Our WordPress guru, Chuck Welch, says we’ll get these problems licked today.
Video: First Look at Lakeland’s GreenWise Market
GreenWise Market, Publix Super Markets’ updated entry in the natural/specialty foods niche, opens in Lakeland on Thursday, and LkldNow got an early look today. Get a preview via our video by visual journalist Reems Landreth. Brian West, media and community relations manager for Publix, led the guided tour: More
GreenWise Mural Shows ‘Lakeland on the Move’
Shoppers in line to check out at Lakeland’s new GreenWise Market, which opens Thursday, will get to ponder an intricate mural showing a cross section of local architecture and people doing interesting things. More
City Moves Toward Formal Hearings on Broadband as New Potential Partners Emerge
Justin Troller, who has devoted much of his final year as a city commissioner pushing for a broadband utility, came away from his next-to-last meeting today with a bigger win than he was angling for. His fellow commissioners rejected his motion to hold a public referendum on an internet utility, but went along with a more far-reaching plan to start a process aimed at making a decision on broadband as early as March. More
Wildwood Owner Has Previous Disciplinary Actions
After breaking the story about Wildwood Antiques Mall closing abruptly amid a bankruptcy ruling, WFLA’s Victoria Price checked records; she discovered that registered owner Manny Pesco has had previous legal difficulties including disciplinary action in 2014 by the state board of auctioneers.
Wildwood Antique Mall Closes Amid Bankruptcy Ruling
The sudden closing of the Wildwood Antique Mall off U.S. 98 just north of I-4 has left hundreds of vendors wondering if or when they’ll get access to their goods again. They learned via email on Wednesday night that the mall was closing immediately following a ruling earlier that day in federal bankruptcy court.
Child’s Injury at Urban Air Prompts Lawsuit
The parents of a 10-year-old boy claim in a lawsuit that their son was injured when he fell 20 feet from the “Sky Rider” zipline at Urban Air Adventure Park at Lakeland Square mall because employees failed to secure him properly. The company released a statement saying it takes safety seriously and the employees involved are no longer working there.
Broadband Forum: Speakers Differ; Commissioners Seek Partnership
City commissioners heard Tuesday evening from 21 citizens with strong opinions about whether the city should launch a broadband utility at a public forum attended by about 100 people. But commissioners spoke last, so they had the last word. And the words were: public-private partnership. More